Collapsible container provided with fluid control means



F. R. GERACI 2,426,195 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH FLUID CONTROLMEANS Aug. '26, 1947.

Filed June 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

FRANCIS R. GERACI Qw LLW He. 2 .---v

Aug. 26, 1947." F.R.GERACZ 2,426,195

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH FLUID CONTROL MEANS Filed June 22,1945 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 l ll 3e 2o 48 n 29 a1 as 52 z 3s as as FIG 5FRANCIS R. GERAGI MLWkM t Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH FLUID CONTROL MEANS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a storage unit within which liquid may beplaced and transported, and, in particular, to a self-supportingcollapsible unit of a pyramidical form adapted to be filled readily andsealed, and from which liquid may be withdrawn as desired.

Heretofore, many and varied types of containers for transporting andstoring water or other fluids have been employed, but by reason eitherof their bulk or inability to maintain themselves in an upright positionwhen filled or partially filled without external supporting means, havebeen most objectionable, particularly under conditions such as thosewhich may be encountered by troops in combat or under extremeemergencies.

It is one object of this invention to provide a practical means ofstoring fluids, which is adapted to be carried from place to place byany available transporting facility.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid container ofsuch a construction which, when it is filled, or partially filled, isentirely self-supporting and adapted to be placed most anywhere on theground whether it be sloping or level, or whether the terrain be smoothor rough, without upsetting or collapsing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container forfluids from which liquid may be dispensed simultaneously at a pluralityof points, thus avoiding loss in time usually encountered when canteensor the like are to be filled from conventional fluid containers of therigid or semirigid types.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container which, whennot in use, may be folded into a very small compact form so that bymeans of straps attached thereto it may be carried in a fashion similarto that used in transporting a knapsack or the like.

These as well as the various other novel features and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a reading of the specification andaccompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view illustrating the container in its expandedform;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the cont ainer in its collapsedform and showing the flexible cover for enveloping the unit when it isto be carried empty;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the container;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken through the pipe connection to thecontainer;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken at 55 of Fig. 1; and

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Fig. 6 is a view of a spoutthrough which liquid may be introduced to the container.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the unit comprises a bottom portionll made of canvas or other suitable strong flexible material, inwardlyconverging side panels l2 of similar material suitably stitched tobottom It and to the edges of each other at water-tight seams l3 and I4respectively, opening spout [5 through which fluid is introduced forfilling the container, and a discharge pipe I6, secured to one of thepanels, havin a plurality of faucets I! through which liquid may bedrained.

The opening spout or funnel l5 formed in the shape of an elongatedflexible tube, is made up of material similar to that of the containerand is secured to the apex thereof by suitable stitches I8; Two pairs ofpanels [9 stitched respectively to the top of the container and to thebottom portion of opening spout l5 are provided with two male portions2| of a snap fastener which, after the container has been filled withliquid and the opening spout I5 collapsed and rolled as shown in Fig. 1,are placed in locked engagement with the snap fastener female portions22. Thus, the top is completely closed preventing introduction offoreign matter to the water supply or loss of liquid therefrom when thefilled container is being used or transported to a new location.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, a truncated cone 23 made of a semi-rigidmaterial, communicates with an opening 46 in one of the panels I2 of thecontainer, being cemented and stitched at the edges of its base 24 to aninner surface of the panel I2, and at its opposite end 25 cemented andstitched to the end of discharge pipe l6.

For rigidity, each pair of faucets I1 is secured to the discharge pipeIt, being secured to one another, through openings provided ondiametrically opposite sides thereof, by means of a reducer 25 threadedat one end for attachment to a short length of pipe 21 having openings28 in the side thereof, and threaded at the opposite end for attachmentto the main body portion 29 of the faucets ll.

Faucets H, for controlling the flow of fluid from the container,comprise a push button valve arrangement consisting of a stem 3! havingat one end thereof a disc 32, provided with a beveled valve seat surface33, and at the opposite end a push button 34. Intermediate the ring 35,which ring is formed integral with the main body portion 29, and pushbutton 34, is a compression spring 45 adapted to maintain the valve inthe closed position by forcing valve seat surface 33 into closingcontact with beveled flange 36, thus preventing leakage of fluid fromthe pipe l6 through chamber 31 and outlet 38 of the discharge valve.

As shown in Fig. 2, the container when empty and folded for transportingto: a new: location, is enclosed in a cover comprising a plurality ofpanels 39 and 4! stitched to the edges of base H, the panels 4! having aplurality of snap fasteners at the edges thereof comprising male andfemale portions 42 and 43 respectively for securing the edges together.The compact unit is readily carried by means of loopedstraps 44extending across and secured to base II.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of theinvention and that various changes in construction, proportion andarrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

I claim:

1. A collapsible self-supporting flexible container and collapsedcontainer enclosure for fluids, comprising a base, inwardly convergingflexible side panels each of'which is secured to said base and at theedges thereof to the edges of the next adjacent side panels, an outlettube secured to said container, a second set of flexible panels each ofwhich is also secured to said base along its edges, the panels of saidsecond set being smaller than said first mentionedpanels, andcooperative fastening means on at least two of said panels of saidsecond set, whereby said second set of panels provides an enclosure forthe collapsed container of said first mentioned panels.

2. A collapsible self-supporting flexible container and collapsedcontainer enclosure for fluids, comprising a flexible base, inwardlyconverging flexible side panels each of which is secured to said baseand at the edges thereof to the edges of the next adjacent side panelsand an outlet tube secured to said container and a flexible inlet spoutprovided with closure means secured to said side panels at the apexthereof, a second set of flexible panels each of which is also securedto said; base along its edges, the panels of said secondset beingsmaller than said first mentioned panels, and cooperative fasteningmeans on at least two of said panels of said second set, whereby saidsecond set of panels provides an enclosure for the collapsed containerof said first mentioned panels.

3'. A. collapsible self-supporting flexible container and collapsedcontainer knapsack pack for fluids; comprising a flexible base, inwardlyconverging side walls secured to said base and terminating in an apex,fluid inlet means secured to said container, an outlet tube secured tothe lower portion of said container, a plurality of faucets secured tosaid outlet tube for controlling the flow of fluid from said outlettube, a set of flexible panels each. of which is also secured with saidside Walls to saidbase alongits edges, said flexible panels beingsmaller than said side walls, looped strap means secured. along thebottom of said flexible base, and cooperative fastening means on atleast twoof said flexible panels whereby said flexible panels and strapmeans provide a knapsack. pack for the collapsed container.

FRANCIS R. GERACI.

REFERENCES CITED The following reiierences are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,518" Hesser Feb. 17, 1891643,099 Ayasse Feb. 13, 1900 736 ,089 Gray Aug. 11, 1903 994,287Thorning June 6, 1911 1,652,457 Reach Dec. 13, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 117,765 Australia Nov. 12, 1943

